Whether you're currently renting, considering buying a home, settling into your permanent home, or just getting ready to move, a good book (or two) can be a helpful resource for sprucing up your living space. With rent and mortgages still expensive, consider using these books to help you tackle a few DIY projects and upgrade your abode.
Renovating your home becomes easy when you have a few hours to explore the property “For the Love of Renovation” by Barry Broderon and Jordan Slocum (Union Square, $49.50). This book will guide you through the process of transforming your current home into an entirely new living space, from idea to living with it and loving it.
This book is filled with tons of great ideas (with pictures!) and easy step-by-step instructions for DIY projects. This is a great book for new home buyers, people with homes that need repairs, and anyone who wants to give their permanent home a fresh look.
If your home has too much stuff, we can help you downsize “The Afro-Minimalist Guide to Living Less” by Christine Pratt (Simon & Schuster/Simon Elements, $16.99). This book adapts mainstream minimalism (which the authors note is “too white”) to a way of living with less, but one that honors African-American life. This unique book helps readers clear out the clutter in their lives while remembering and honoring their blackness, background, and ancestry. No more living with piles of stuff and unnecessary possessions. Now available in paperback, this book will help you organize your clutter.
Are you looking for a place for mom? Or do you want to be a landlord? Then check it out “ADUs: The Perfect Housing Solution” by Sheri Kuhns (Gibbs Smith, $40.) You may not have heard of ADUs, but they're the latest trend in the housing industry. ADU stands for Accessory Dwelling Unit, an abbreviation for an extra home or apartment in an extra yard or lot that happens to be on or is attached to your current property or home.
This book shows how homeowners across the country have created new spaces to generate income or keep their parents close by. This book will definitely give you a new perspective on your property and maybe even improve your wallet.
Green “Houseplants and Succulents for Beginners” by Stephen A. Frowine (For Dummies, $24.99) means you'll never have to “leave” your home. This clear, easy-to-use book will help you grow houseplants that everyone will envy. Want to know how to proceed from watering to transplanting, from rooting to root rot? Need to know which plants prefer which windows in your home and which plants are safe to have in your home? Don't let the “For Dummies” part scare you away; every smart plant parent will want this book on their bookshelf.
Young people who want to work hard in your home, “Woodworking: A Complete Step-by-Step Manual” by DK (DK Publishing, $40). If your child wants to try woodworking, this book is a great place to start. It's packed with ideas, how to measure, choose wood, and how to safely use the right tool for the job. Once your child gets it, the book features 25 DIY projects to create useful, practical items for the home or yard. If your dad, mom, grandpa, or grandma is a woodworker, this book is perfect for kids ages 8 to 12 who are handy and dexterous. Bonus: You can help, too!